An Arizona judge has declared a mistrial in the case of rancher George Alan Kelly, who was accused of fatally shooting Mexican man Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea in January 2023. The jury failed to reach a unanimous decision after more than two days of deliberation, leading to the mistrial.
Kelly was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Cuen-Buitimea, but prosecutors now have the option to retry Kelly or drop the case altogether. A status hearing has been scheduled for next Monday to determine the next steps in the case.
The Consul General of the Mexican consulate in Nogales, Arizona, is waiting for the outcome alongside Cuen-Buitimea’s daughters. Kelly’s defense attorney has not yet responded to the ruling.
During the trial, Kelly had rejected a plea agreement that would have reduced the charge to negligent homicide. The case has drawn interest in border security, particularly as it coincides with a presidential election year.
Jurors deliberated for over two days before the mistrial was declared, highlighting the complexity of the case and the difficulty in reaching a consensus. As the legal proceedings continue, stakeholders on both sides of the border are waiting to see what the next steps will be in this high-profile case. Stay tuned to Poh Diaries for updates on this developing story.
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